Gang band-saw mill



(No Model.) '4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. T. RAINFORD.

GANG BAND SAW MILL.

No. 548,091. Patented Oct. 15, 1895.

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W/TNESSES: INVENTIUI? 5 W f, 'M ,M

A TTOHNEYS.

ANDREW B.GRMMM. PHOTO-UHQWASNINGTONJL 4 Sheets.Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

T. T. RAINFORD. GANG BAND SAW MILL.

ANDREW BAHAKAM, FHUTOJID'IQWASHING'I'UKDC.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS T. RAINFORD, OF TACOMA, WVASHINGTON.

GANG BAND-SAW MILL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 548,091, dated October15, 1895.

Application filed August 4, 1894. erial No. 519,467. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS '1. RAINFORD, of Tacoma, in the county ofPierce and State of Washington, have invented a new and Improved GangBand-Saw Mill, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription. The object of the invention is to provide a new andimproved gang band-saw mill which is comparatively simple and durable inconstruction, very effective in' operation, and more especially designedfor cutting a log or piece of timber atone forward movement into anydesired number of boards of equal or different thicknesses. 1

The invention consists principally of a main driving-shaft carrying aseries of main sawband driving-wheels and a frame for each driving-wheelsupporting saw-band wheels in vertical alignment with each other and inalignment with the main driving-wheels.

The invention also consists in certain parts and details andcombinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter andthen pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a side View of the improvement. Fig.2 is a front-endelevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the same onthe line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of theadjustable frame with parts in section. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectionof the same on the lines 5 5 of Figs. 4 and 1. Fig. 6 is a sectionalplan view of the same on the lines 6 6 of Figs. 4 and 1. Fig. 7 is asectional plan view of the bearing-block support for the upper ban d-sawwheel, the section being taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is asectional plan View of the bearing-block raising and lowering device,the section being taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 4:. Fig. 9 is asectional plan View of the weighted-lever mechanism for automaticallyholding the band-saw taut. Fig. 10 is a transverse section of theframe-shifting mechanism. Fig. 11 is' support for the end of the maindriving-shaft when the saw-bands are being placed on the wheels orremoved therefrom.

The improved sawmill is provided with a .main driving-shaft A, extendingtransversely and journaled in suitable pillow-blocks B B, set on properfoundations, as plainly illustrated in the drawings. On one end of themain driving-shaft'A is secured a pulley A, connected by a belt withother machinery for imparting a rotary motion to the said shaft tweenthe wheels C and C serves to cut into a log moved forward in theusual'manner by a suitable feeding device.

In the rear of the main saw-band drivingwheel 0 is secured on the shaftA a second main saw-band driving-wheel 0 on the hub of which is held astationary frame D carrying in its front end saw-band wheels 0 and 0arranged in vertical alignment with each other and 'set somewhat infront of the wheels 0 and 0 as will be readily understood by referenceto Figs. 1 and 3. Over the Wheels (3 O C passes a second saw-band E,thevertical portion of which, between the wheels 0 and C is adapted to cutinto a log as the lat-' ter is fed transversely, it being understoodthat the saw-band E is somewhat in the'rear of the band E, but fartherout, as illustrated in Fig. 1, whereby two cuts are made simultaneouslyby the said vertical portions of the saw-bands E and E. As the frame Dcan be longitudinally adjusted, the saw-bands E and E can be moved agreater or less distance apart, according to the thickness of the boardsto be out.

As shown in Fig. 1, the log or timber E under treatment is supported ona carriage E adapted to travel transversely on a suitable track E theouter ends of the log being supported on a suitable roller E journaledion- ICO gitudinally in the rear of the frame D. (See Figs. 1 and 3.)Now by shifting the log E longitudinally the first saw-band E may bebrought any desired distance from the outer edge of the log. so that thefirst cut made by the saw-band E will cut a board of a thickness whichmay vary from the thickness of the board cut by the saw-band E followingthe first saw-band E.

In order to shift the frame D longitudinally the following device isprovided: The hub of the wheel 0 is journaled in bearings D on which isfitted to slide the rear end of the frame D, the latter being providedfor this purpose with a transverse opening D, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.In the bearings D are secured the longitudinally-extending rods F, (seeFig. 6,) provided at their forward ends with screw-threads F, engagingthe threaded bore of a worm-wheel nut F in mesh with the worm-wheels Fsecured on a transversely-extending shaft Ffljournaled in suitablebearings in the frame D. The worm-wheel nuts F as shown in Fig. 13, areeach composed of two parts-a. threaded nut F provided with a head andfitting, the screw-rod, and a wormwheel F, provided with a hub F at eachside and mounted on the nut. The worm-wheel nuts fit into openings Dformed in the sides of the frame D, so that when the said wormwheel nutsF are rotated, then they screw and push or haul on the fixed rods F, andconsequently shift the frame D longitudinally on the bearings D owing tothe worm-wheel nuts fitting in the openings D hen itis desired toreadjust the frame laterally, so as to cause the saw to lead into or outof the log, as may be desired, then the operator loosens the set-screw Fin the hub of the worm-wheel F (see Fig. 6) and gives a slight turn tothe hexagon head of the nut F in either direction, until the accuratelead of the saw is obtained. Then the set-screw is again screwed up tofasten the hub and nuts in place, and the adjustment is maintained. Theadjustment is the setting of the frame in alignment with the main wheel0.

On the front end of the shaft F previously mentioned, is securedafriction-disk F adapted to be engaged at its front face by afriction-roller G, fitted to slide on and to turn with alongitudinally-extending shaft G, carrying at one end a gear-wheel G(see Figs. 1 and 4,) in mesh with a gear-wheel G fitted to slide on andto turn with a shaft G, journaled at one end in suitable hearings in theframe D and at its inner end in the bearings D as will be readilyunderstood by reference to Fig. 6. On this inner end of the shaft G issecured a bevel gear-wheel G in mesh with a bevel gear-wheel C formed onthe hub of the wheel C, so that when the latter is rotated the saidgear'wheel C meshing in the gearwheel G causes the rotation of the shaftG and the motion of the latter is transmitted by the gear-wheels G and Gto the shaft G.

Now when the friction-roller G, turning with the said shaft G, is in itsfrictional contact with the front face of the friction-disk F, then thelatter and its shaft F and worms F are rotated to cause a rotary motionof the worm-wheel nuts F to shift the frame D longitudinally by the saidworm-wheel nuts F screwing on the fixed rods F, as previously described.The shaft G is journaled in a frame having the side arms G and Gconnected with each other by a longitudinallyextending bar G the sidearm G being pivoted in the frame D and the other side arm G beingfulcrumedloosely on the shaft G it being understood that the said shaftG is in alignment with the pivot for the side arm G. On the latter issecured a handle G, adapted to be taken hold of by the operator, so asto swing the frame carrying the shaft G inward or outward to move thefrictionroller G into or out of frictional contact with the disk F Aslong as the wheel 0 is rotating, the said shaft G, with itsfriction-roller G, is in motion, and whenever the operator desires toshift the frame D he simply swings the arm G outward to move thefriction-roller G in frictional contact with the disk F so that therotary motion of the friction-roller is transmitted to the disk F, asabove described. Normally, however, the frictionroller G is out ofengagement with the disk F during the time of sawing logs.

Now in order to impart a sliding motion to the frame D, either to theright or to theleft, I provide a shifting-fork G engaging opposite sidesof the friction-roller G, the said shifting-fork being fitted to slidelongitudinally on the bar G so as to move the frictionroller G either tothe left or to the right of the center of the friction-disk F to imparta forward or return motion to the said frictiondisk, and consequently amotion to the right or to the left to the frame D. The shiftingfork G ispreferably provided with a suitable hand-locking lever G for holding thesaid shiftingfork in position after the friction-roller G is moved tothe proper position.

When the frame D is moved by the abovedescribed device to the right, thesaw-band E naturally slackens, and when the said frame is moved outwardor to the left then the sawband E would break if no provision were madefor changing the position of the wheels 0' and C relatively one to theother. Now in order to compensate for the longitudinal movement of theframe D inward or outward, as described, to hold the saw-band E at alltimes in the proper position on its wheels 0 G I make the wheels C and Cvertically adjustable and move the Wheel 0 up and down in its bearingsby a mechanism actuated from the mechanism for shifting the frame Dlongitudinally, as above described. For this purpose the shaft C of thewheel 0 is journaled in self-adjusting spherical boxes, mounted inbearings H, fitted to slide vertically in guideways D formed in theframe D. Each of the bearings H rests at its lower ICC end on ascrew-rod H, extending vertically on the inside of the frame D, thelower end of each screw-rod being engaged by a wormwheel mounted toslide on and to turn with the screw-rod H, the latter screwing in anutblock I, supported from a lever mechanism, as hereinafter more fullydescribed. Each worm-wheel H engages at its top and bottom a recess D,formed in the side of the frame D, so that the worm-wheel is free torotate to drive the screw-rod H to raise and lower the latter by thescrew-rod screwing'in the nutblock I. The worm-wheels H are in mesh withworms H (see Fig. 8,) secured on a transversely-extending shaft 1-I,journaled in suitable hearings in the frame D, the said shaft Hcarrying a bevel gear-wheel H in mesh with a bevel gear-wheel H securedon a vertically-disposed shaft H journaled in suitable bearings held onthe shafts H and F (See Figs. 4:, 5, and 8.) On the lower end of theshaft H is mounted to slide and to turn a bevel gear-wheel H adapted tobe thrown into or out of mesh with a gear-wheel F secured on the shaft FThe bevel gear-wheel H is provided with a shifting-lever H under thecontrol of the operator, to move the said bevel gear-Wheel H into or outof mesh with the bevel gear-wheel F On the hub of the gear-wheel Hpreviously mentioned, is secured a second bevel gearwheel H in mesh witha bevel gear-wheel H held on a shaft H extending longitudinally andjournaled in suitable bearings arranged on the frame D, as plainlyindicated in Fig. 4E. The gear -wheels H H and shaft H serve for raisingor lowering the upper band-wheel 0 independently and separately and areworked by a hand-crank applied to the end of the shaft H which protrudesthrough the face of the frame D with a square end to receive the saidhand-crank for the purpose of turning the shaft to adjust the height ofthe wheel 0 to suit different lengths of saws without changing therelative position that the saw E has to the saw E in their verticalposition.

It is understood that the miter gear-wheel 1-1 is raised up out of meshwith its fellow gear-wheel F by the lever H, so that the wheel F remainsdormant, together with the worms F and the worm-wheels FF, so that thescrew-rod H can be worked separately by hand. Now when the gear-wheel His in mesh with the gear-wheel F and the shaft F is rotated by thefriction-roller G being in frictional contact with the disk F", aspreviously described, then a rotary motion is given to the said Wheel Hits shaft H", and the gear-wheel H so that the latter transmits itsrotary motion to the gear-wheelH and the worm-shaft H whereby the wormsH on the said shaft H rotate the wormwheels H and thereby turn thescrew-rods H, so that the latter screw up or down in the nutblocks I toraise or lower the bearings H, and

Consequently the shaft 0 and wheel 0'. Thus when the frame D is shiftedto the right by the mechanism previously described, then the screw-rodsH are turned in such a direction as to screw upward in the nut-blocks Ito raise the wheels 0, and thereby draw the saw-band E taut as the frameD moves outward to the right. 'When the frame D moves inward or to theleft, then the friction-roller G is on the other side of the center ofthe disk F so that a reverse motion is transmitted by the mechanismdescribed to the screw-rods H, whereby the latter are screwed downwardin the nutblocks I to lower the wheel 0, so as to compensate for themovement of the frame D in the direction to the left to hold thesaw-band sufficiently taut over the wheels 0, O, and C The nut-blocks Iare each provided with guide-arms I, fitted to slide vertically in theguideways D for the bearings H, and each nut-bloek I is engaged at itsunder side by an eye formed in the fork of a lever 1 fulcrumed at I onthe frame D, as plainly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 9. This lever 1 ispivotally connected at its outer end by a link I with a second lever 1fulcrumed at I on the frame D, and being connected at its free end withone end of a rope 1 extending first upwardly over pulleys 1 held on thelever I in the rear of its fulcrum 1 The rope I then extends downwardand carries or supports at its lower end a weight 1 which has a tendencyto impart an upward swinging motionlto the eye ends of the lever 1 toconsequently press against the under side of the blocks I, so as to holdthe screw-rods H with an upward pressure against the under side of thebearingsHto hold the saw-band E at all times sufficiently taut for theWork and after adjustment asabove described.

The lower band-wheel O has its shaft C journaled in bearings J, fittedto slide in guideways D arranged in the frame D, and the upper ends ofthe said bearings are engaged by screw-rods J, extending upwardly andscrewing in nut-blocks J adapted to be turned by the operator whennecessary, tojadjust the wheel 0 into vertical alignment, but normallyheld in position by set-screws in guide-arms J engaging the guideways Das plainly illustrated in the drawings. When the set-screw in the arms Jis loosened, then the nut-block J can be turned by the operator applyinga suitable tool, so as to screw the screw-rods J up or down, accordingto the desired adjustment of the bandwheel 0 This adjustment for thebearings of the wheel (3 is duplicated .and is used on the bearings forthe wheels 0 G in the frame D. By this arrangement one side of the wheel0 can be raised or lowered until it is in proper alignment, after whichthe set-screw is screwed up to again fasten the nut-block J and arm Jtogether.

In order to properlyguide the vertical portions of the saw-bands E andE, I provide for each saw-band two guides K, engaging the band above andbelow the log to be out, as

IIO

indicated in the drawings. Each saw-guide K is provided with twoparallel arms K, between which passes the saw-band, the back of whichtravels on a friction-roller K j ournaled in the guide. Each guide isprovided with guide-arms K fitted to slide in suitable brackets Kprojecting from the corresponding frame D or D at the front end thereof.Each upper saw-guide K is supported on a rope K extending upwardly andpassing over a pulley K journaled on the bracket K and then the ropeextends over a second pulley K journaled near the frame D or D, the ropethen extending downward to support at its lower end acounterbalancing-weight K A rod K connects each saw-guide K with thesleeve K fitted to slide in suitable hearings on the front edge of theframe D or D, so as to properly guide the saw-guide K in its upand-downmovement.

The lower saw-guides K are rigidly supported from the frame D or D, butare of the same construction as the upper guides that is, each has twoparallel arms and a frictionroller, as will be readily seen by referenceto Fig. 2.

In order to permit of conveniently placing the saw-bands upon the setsof wheels, or to remove old ones therefrom, the following device isprovided: The pillow-block B, supported at one end of the shaft A, isset on a wedge B fitted to slide in a foundation-plate B held on the topof the foundation for the said pillow-block, as plainly shown in Figs. 1and 3. A bolt 13 is fitted to slide vertically in the pillow-block B andis adapted to pass through the wedge B and the foundationplate B so asto lock the three parts together, as will be understood by reference toFigs. 1 and 11. The upper end of the bolt 13 is provided with across-arm B adapted to move in a vertical slot arranged in thepillow-block, and the outer end of this cross-piece B is adapted to beengaged by a hook B pivoted on the cap for the pillow-block B.

Now when it is desired to place new sawbands on the wheels or remove theold ones therefrom, then the operator first places a suitable supportunder the outer end of the shaft A, after passing the saws around theshaft A between the said support and pillowblock B. The operator thenmoves the crosspiece B upward to withdraw the bolt B from thefoundation-plate B and the wedge B and then locks the cross-piece inplace by engaging the hooks B with the outer end of the cross-piece. Theoperator now withdraws the wedge B from under the pillow-block B, so asto form a passage for one run of the saw to move the old saws out frombetween the wheel 0 and pillow-block B and pass the new ones in placebetween the pillow-block B and wheel 0, to finally place the saws inposition over the sets of wheel 0 C O and O 0 0 After this is done thewedge B is again put in position and the cross-piece ]3 unhooked toagain engage the bolt B with the wedge B and the foundation-plate B Thesupport is then removed from the outer end of the saw-driving shaft A topermit of taking the old saws from the end of the shaft.

Any suitable means may be employed for supporting the outer end of theshaft A while putting the saw-bands in place or removing them. Thedevice illustrated in the drawings, and shown in detail in Fig. 13,consists of an arm or lever L, fulcrumed at one end upon a suitablesupport and provided near the other end with a recess or groove toreceive the end of the shaftA when the lever is swung up beneath theshaft. A leg or standard L is secured to the free end of the arm orlever L and supports it when in position under the shaft A.

It is understood that any desired number of adjustable frames D,carrying saw-band wheels, may be provided for a single mill, so that anydesired number of saw-bands may be run and set in such a manner as tocut a large number of boards at one forward movement of the log. At thesame time the adjustable frames D can be moved in such positions thatthe several saw-bands are difierently spaced one from the other to outboards of Various thicknesses, or the frames may be'adjusted to spacethe saw-bands alike to cut boards all of the same thickness.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. A gang band saw mill, comprising a series of mainsaw band driving wheels secured on the driving shaft, a frame for eachdriving wheel, and saw band wheels j ournaled in each frame, one beinglocated above the other but in alignment with the main saw band drivingwheel of its frame, substantially as shown and described,

2. A gang band saw mill, comprising a series of main saw band drivingwheels secured on a main driving shaft, a series of frames for the saidwheels, of which one is stationary and the others are longitudinallyadjustable, and saw band wheels j ournaled in each frame, one above theother and in alignment with the corresponding main saw band drivingwheel in this frame, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a gang band saw mill, the combination, with a main saw banddriving wheel secured on a driving shaft, of a frame fitted to slidelongitudinally on bearings held on the hub of the said wheel, and sawband wheels located one above the other and in alignment with the mainsaw band driving wheel, each of the said saw band wheels being heldvertically adjustable in the frame, substantially as shown anddescribed.

4:. In a gang band saw mill, the combination, with the main saw banddriving wheel secured on the main driving shaft, of a frame fitted toslide longitudinally on bearings held on the hub of the said Wheel, sawband wheels held on the said frame and located one above the other andin alignment with the main saw band driving wheel, and means,substantially as described, for moving the said frame longitudinally, asset forth.

5. In a gang band saw mill, the combination, with the main saw banddriving wheel secured on the main driving shaft, of a frame fitted toslide longitudinally, saw band wheels held on the said frame and locatedone above the other and in alignment with the main saw band drivingwheel, and a mechanism for adjusting the said frame longitudinally, themechanism being adapted to be actuated from the said main saw banddriving wheel, substantially as shown and described.

6. In a gang band saw mill, the combination, with the main saw banddriving wheel secured on the main driving shaft, of a frame fitted toslidelongitudinally, saw band wheels held on the said frame and locatedone above the other and in alignment with the main saw band drivingwheel, a mechanism for adj usting the said frame longitudinally, themechanism being adapted to be actuated from the said main saw banddriving wheel, and means, substantially as described, and driven fromthe said frame adjusting mechanism, to vertically adjust one of the saidsaw band wheels in the frame, as set forth.

7. In agangband saw mill, the combination, with the main saw banddriving wheel secured on the main driving shaft, of a frame fitted toslide longitudinally, saw band wheels held on the said frame and locatedone above the other and in alignment with the main saw band drivingwheel, a mechanism for adj usting the said frame longitudinally, themechanism being adapted to be actuated from the said main saw banddriving wheel, and the said adjusting mechanism for the frame beingprovided with a reversing device for imparting motion to the said framein either direction, substantially as shown and described.

8. In agangband sawmill, the combination with a frame carrying bandwheels of which one is provided with bearings fitted to slide verticallyin the said frame, of the screw rods arranged at opposite sides of theframe and engaging the under sides of the respective bearings, a nutblock screwing on each of said screw rods, a yoke or guide armencircling each of said nut blocks at its lower end, andprovided with aset screw for fastening the nut block to the guide arm, the said guidearms engaging guideways formed in the sides of the frame, and a weightedlever having a forked end, each member of which is provided with an eyeencircling the respective screw rods and engaging the under side of thenut block, substantially as shown and described.

9. In a gang band sawmill, the combination, with a main driving shaft, amain saw band driving wheel secured on the said shaft and provided onits hub with bearings, of aframe fitted to slide longitudinally on thesaid bearings, screw rods held on the said bearings, and nut worm wheelsscrewing on the said screw rods and adapted to be driven from the saidwheels and fitted to slide longitudinally on the said bearings, screwrods held on the said bearings, nut worm wheels screwing on the saidscrew rods and engaging recesses in the said frame, to move the latterlongitudinally, worms in mesh with the said worm wheels,a friction diskheld on the shaft of the said worms, the latter being journaled in thesaid frame, a friction roller adapted to be thrown in frictional contactwith the said disk, and means, substantially as described, for drivingthe said friction roller from the main saw band driving wheel, as setforth.

11. In a gang band saw mill, the combination, with a main driving shaftand a main saw band driving wheel provided on its hub with bearings, ofa frame carrying saw band wheels and fitted to slide longitudinally onthe said bearings, screw rods held on the said bearings, nut worm wheelsscrewing on the said screw rods and engaging recesses in the said frame,to move the latter longitudinally, worms in mesh with the said wormwheels, a friction disk held on the shaft of the said worms, the latterbeing journaled in the said frame, a friction roller adapted to bethrown in frictional contact with the said disk, means, substantially asdescribed, for driving the said friction roller from the main saw banddriving wheel, and a shifting mechanism for the said friction roller, tomove the latter to either side of the center of the said frictiondisk,to rotate the latter in either direction, substantially as set forth.

12. In a gang band saw mill, the combination with vertically adjustablebearings carrying a saw band wheel, of screw rods engaging the saidbearings at their under side, nut

blocks in which screw the said screw rods,

worm wheels mounted on the lower ends of the screw rods, the said wormwheels'being held in recesses formed in the frame, and the said screwrods turning with the worm wheels and having free vertical movementtherein, worms in mesh with the said worm wheels, a transverselyextending shaft carrying the said worms and journaled in stationarybearings, and means, substantially as described for turning the saidshaft in either direction to raise and lower the said bearings, as andfor the purpose set forth.

13. A gang band saw mill, provided with a pillow block, a wedge engagingthe under side of the pillow block, a foundation plate in which the saidwedge is fitted to slide and a bolt fitted to slide vertically inguideways formed in the pillow block and adapted to engage the wedge andfoundation plate and means for holding the bolt out of engagement withthe said wedge and foundation plate, as and for the purpose set forth.

14. A gang band saw mill, provided with a pillow block, a wedge engagingthe under side ofthe pillow block, a foundation plate carrying the saidwedge,and a bolt adapted to engage the said wedge and foundation plate,the

10 upper end of the bolt being provided with a cross arm fitted to movein a vertical slot arranged in the pillow block, and means for engagingthe outer ends of the cross arm when the bolt is raised, as and for thepurpose set forth.

THOMAS T. RAINFORD.

Witnesses:

R. H. LUND, WM. PIoKERT.

